The Camry has an image problem. It perpetually gets hated on as a dull, limp, slow, soulless, beige appliance. That’s despite the fact that it has consistently been competitive in its dynamics, never mind its more practical qualities; the V6 SE version is widely acknowledged to be a competent and quick sports sedan; quicker than a Lamborghini Countach, even, as we proved here.

But perception is reality, and Toyota has decided to make a more dynamic looking replacement Camry. It’s the first all-new Camry since 2002, and it’s bucking the trend by being lower, wider and longer. The new TNGA platform (also shared with the new Prius) includes a more ambitious new suspension to reinforce the looks with improved handling. it’s already transformed the Prius’ handling, steering and chassis dynamics.

The Camry has another problem: sedan sales are shrinking, and the Camry may lose its #1 sales spot this year. So this new model has quite the headwinds to buck. Toyota thinks it can reinvigorate interest with its new Camry. Interested?

It’s really been quite an accomplishment, a highly profitable one too, keeping the same basic platform body hard points competitive for a full 15 years. Especially since seemingly none of its competitors could ever best the Camry’s exceptional interior space utilization. The current Camry’s back seat is particularly as commodious and spacious in its class. And Toyota accomplished that in part by making the XV30 2002 Camry taller than average, which also contributed to the ease of ingress/egress.

So it will be interesting to see how a lower Camry will do. Especially with its loyal following, which does skew a bit older. Walking the line between being the Buick LeSabre of its time as well and a competent sports sedan to appeal to younger buyers is a challenge.

There’s two distinct front facias on the new Camry; the SE and SXE (right) sport a more aggressive front end along with more deeply sculpted rocker panels and different rear end too.

In two somewhat surprising move, Toyota bucking the down-sized turbo-wave by keeping the V6 (with even more power) as well as the naturally-aspirated 2.5 four (substantially revised with more power and greater efficiency), both backed by an eight-speed automatic. That should please a number of buyers skeptical of tiny turbo engines under the hood. As well as CVTs.

There will also be an improved hybrid version too.

The interior is of course also new. And rather appealing, from this shot.

Ergonomics are claimed to be better, and naturally the electronic suite offers a significant improvement. There will be a number of different displays available, smart-phone interface via the Entune 3.0 system, which also afford 4G LTE in-vehicle Wi-Fi for up to five mobile devices. Audio systems are also improved. And then there’s Toyota’s Safety-sense system with pre-collision warning, with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning with steering assist, and automatic high-beams, plus adaptive cruise control and a backup camera. This will be standard on all 2018 Camrys; blind-spot monitoring and cross-traffic alert are available on some models.

There you have it. Well, that’s just the preliminary highlights. Like it or not, Toyota has kept its promise to make its cars less boring.

103 Comments

It’s the red interior that did it, mainly. And, sadly, I’m sure that will not be available with the 4 cylinder engine, and as I find 6 cylinder mid-sizers to be fuel-wasting anachronisms, we may have a problem here.

But really, they’ve done quite the job from what I can see here. I have a few quibbles–the sculpturing on the rear corners seems extraneous and I can nitpick both front end designs (the “mouth” is too wide on the base, and the SE/SXE is too close to Lexus’s dreades spindle). All things considered, though, I am actually legitimately interested in a Camry.

But it still has an image to shake, and changing public perception is going to be tough. Interested to see how this is going to go down. They’ve definitely upped their game though–well played, Toyota, well played.

Nothing is going to make the Camry more exciting until the driving experience changes.

The styling is clearly more . . . interesting and seems to borrow a page from the unhomageable Echo. It looks a little bit like one of those women of a certain age who have had too much plastic surgery and all their body parts look like they belong to different people. The nose of the car has nothing to do with the rear door.

This is one of those cars that I respect, and sure, it generates good numbers but not one iota of joy or feedback in doing so. The steering is entirely devoid of feedback. It’s not a car which encourages you to push it or enjoy the driving experience. It does its job superbly competently but without fervor, emotion, or excitement.

This is one of those cars that I respect, and sure, it generates good numbers but not one iota of joy or feedback in doing so. The steering is entirely devoid of feedback. It’s not a car which encourages you to push it or enjoy the driving experience. It does its job superbly competently but without fervor, emotion, or excitement.

Wow!!! You’ve actually driven a 2018 Camry??? How did you score that? 🙂

But just in case you haven’t actually driven one, than your comments are highly speculative, eh? FWIW, the new TNGA platform has transformed the driving dynamics of the new Prius, which also shares it. All the reviews are quite enthusiastic about the huge improvement in handling, steering feel and other chassis dynamics.

And if your comment was aimed at the current Camry, it’s highly…predictable. And lacking in nuance. “entirely devoid of feedback” I don’t think so. And exactly which of its direct competitors offer “fervor, emotion, or excitement”?

Ironically the one thing missing from the Mazda 6, that the Camry has, is a 6. The mandatory SkyActive four is definitely strong for a NA four cylinder(2.5L!!!) but you really need to put your foot down to get it moving.

Course most Camrys aren’t V6s and apples to apples/4cyl to 4cyl, I agree, I way like driving the Mazda more.

I honestly don’t get the Mazda 6. And I wanted to. Local dealer had a blue with grey wheels Mazda 6 Grand Touring that was at a closeout price and looked amazing. I wanted to love that car but it was…. boring. I liked sitting in it, I liked looking at it but driving it left much to be desired.

Hated any Accord with the CVT, the Accord V6 was almost as underwhelming as the Sonata Turbo.

What did I buy, this crusty old American pickup driver? A Camry SE with the four. Great car, fun to drive, shockingly powerful.

A recent spin in a 2017 Fusion Sport V6 left a very lasting impression on us. It was really quick, comfortable with plenty of interior room, handled better than we expected and had a lot more personality than any Camry or Altima could ever hope for. It’s one achilles heel was that the V6 was a bit thirsty but then this was a brand new car with only 20 miles so the 20 MPG figure we saw should get better over time. So yes there are direct competitors that offer at least some emotion and excitement these days.

I had a week to enjoy the 2017 Fusion sport with the turbocharged V6. A very engaging car on a couple of levels. Took it on a highway trip for the day and spent a lot of seat time in both directions. Around town with occasional juvenile behavior I managed just under 12L/100km. I took one highway trip and kept the speed at 100 km/ph (62 mph) resulting in an average 9L/100km (31 mpg) That was just me aboard, with no luggage and tires at their proper pressure. The car was well broken in before I received it. I’ve driven Camrys and they’re okay but not for me. Just traded in our 03 530i for a 2010 Fusion SEL with the 2.5 four. The wife drives it most of the time and we’re both happy with the Fusion. Nope not a driver’s model but just fine for urban and occasional highway driving.

My spouse wanted a Fusion Sport, but he figured he’d get himself into trouble. The Fusion Titanium he bought in its stead is an absolutely brilliant car! Handles well, rides really well, has good room inside; and it feels absolutely rock solid. Even the doors sound and feel good. Ford has set a very high bar with this new version of the Fusion.

Sadly I think it is, every way to drape steel over 4 wheels and a varying amount of humans has been tried, refined and boiled down to one size fits all, which is largely what the last generation Camry is and why it’s a whipping boy for enthusiasts. So when trying to make something distinctive now it seems like the only choices are to either use tracing paper over a classic design(retro), or take a picture of an existing inoffensive design and crumple it up(artsy)

Loving that new snowplow attachment on the ’18 Camry… perfect for clearing the driveway after a big storm. That big side cove could come in handy for strapping on a pair of cross-country skies or snowshoes. Congrats to Toyota for creating the perfect winter sedan!

The 2018 Camry resembles aspects of the new Alfa Giulia. It’s probably more a coincidence than a direct copy, as the timeline is a bit tight, unless Toyota had inside information from Alfa. The bulging hood profile in both are likely dictated by pedestrian protection regulations.

I like it. The more understated LE/XLE version is the best looking Camry in a while. The hybrid could be really nice. Prius-like fuel economy, but with a more powerful 2.5L gas engine, and same trunk space as the non-hybrid version (the battery pack is now under the rear seat)

Toyota may have become more adventurous with styling, but it’s still very conservative where it counts: Non-turbo engines, and torque converter 8-speed automatic. The Camry chief engineer said about keeping the V6: “Because Americans like it.”

Thank you for doing a “new car” review. CC has no limits, just a wonderful gathering place for people who like motor vehicles of any kind, land, sea or air!

new camry. I’d rather be in a smart-for-two in a crash than in an original mini, but the point remains the same to me. (ok, maybe the new Smart also has a long overhang now) But Toyota’s gone crazy long overhang & unfortunately bloated, like so much of recent design output. Yet they still have trouble meeting those pesky small-overlap crash tests. (don’t know how the new Smart did).

This will be interesting. Most of the Camrys I see out on the road are driven by older drivers. That is certainly the case in my extended family. Will a more youthful version appeal to them? Or will it appeal to a younger demographic and convince them to get back into a sedan? Both good questions.

It has been received wisdom that you can sell a young person’s car to an old person (or at least what looks to an old person like a young person’s car) so perhaps Toyota is moving in the right direction. The “Buick Paradigm” which kept designing for the very same customer base eventually proved to be a, well, dead end.

I see a bit of Mazda 626 in the side profile, Tesla S in front and Prius in the back. Will be interesting to see how it does in the marketplace.

The last Camry that seriously interested me was the 92-96 generation. I still daydream of getting a mint 94 SE stick and keeping it forever, but it hasn’t happened yet and all examples from that generation are disappearing quick in my area.

Toyota’s current design language is very much starting to approach late Exner levels in their front and rear end treatments. Otherwise I’m liking the longer/lower/wider reversal, and even better yet the lowered beltline. Say what you will about the merits of across the board upward growth in cars but the trend of ever taller sedans and the decline in sedan sales may be interconnected, there are sports cars with less awkward trunk openings than some of these high butt fastback family sedans as one notable side effect. While I won’t be buying a Camry, ever, I am rooting for this generation to reverse the slide, influencing other automakers to do the same.

Definitely seeing the Lexus X mouth thing, with a Toyota upper lip grafted over it, especially on the pic of the red car about halfway down the page. Still, looks a bit more interesting than the current one. Toyota’s finally started to realize people want interesting cars again.

I drove a 2015 as a rental a bit ago. It was pretty decent inside-leather with red contrast stitching, had the touchscreen stuff. It was nice enough inside that I finally could concede someone spending their money on one wasn’t blind, drunk, or suffering from a substantial blow to the head.

Driving it… Felt like Toyota bought a 2012 Fusion, ripped it apart, and tried to copy the driving dynamics (Mr. X had a 2012 Fusion for awhile, so I had a lot of butt time in the driver’s chair). But, the steering was more vague-overresponsive without sufficient feedback to tell you why the thing you’re doing isn’t giving you the desired outcome. Same for the brakes and gas-the responses felt out of sync with the inputs. I DD a 2014 Fiesta ST with super touchy brakes, and one of our fun cars is a 1978 Continental with power assist brakes that feel like you’re going through the windshield if you breathe on them, yet the brakes on that Camry felt super twitchy and took me awhile to get used to.

Now, don’t get me wrong-it wasn’t terrible to drive, but it wasn’t great, either. It was a nice enough car, and I could understand why someone who doesn’t give a carp about automobiles could reasonably buy one after looking at others in the segment. It still wasn’t the car I’d buy, though.

And given what Ford’s done with the newest iteration of the Fusion, Toyota’s got a lot of work to do to best it. (Mr. X just bought a brand new 2017 Fusion Titanium-what a magnificent car! Better than the 2012 he had in every way.)

All good things must come to an end, and such may be the case with sales leadership with the Camry. Just as the Taurus before it, or the Cutlass, there were models that held the sales championship for a good long time, only to finally be toppled. Nothing was a game changer in the Camry, it just was always the overall good at most things, great at nothing type of car that the masses love. As long as it was reliable, like an appliance, you just replaced it with something similar, only newer, and perhaps with another few bells and whistles. Oddly, being the sales champion in sedan sales today is like being the top rhythmic gymnast at the Olympics. Sure, you won, but nobody really cared except your coach, family, and your competitors. As long as trucks and SUVs are the real sales leaders, nobody is going to do anything radical as radical costs money.

The decline of the mid-size sedan is a market-wide phenomenon, not limited to Toyota. And it’s not as if Toyota doesn’t have a whole fleet of SUV/crossovers to pick up the slack. Toyota invented the modern car-based crossover with the RAV4 and Lexus RX, now it has a wide line-up from the upcoming C-HR to the Highlander. It’s arguably the automaker best positioned to take advantage of this market shift.

Toyota only charges $800 premium for the 2017 RAV4 hybrid vs. the gas-only AWD equivalent version. It’s the smallest among vehicles with both full hybrid and conventional versions. (Lincoln at one time priced the MKZ hybrid identically to conventional MKZ, but that was between an inline-4 hybrid and a gas V6) With such a small premium, the hybrid is almost a no-brainer, given advantages in fuel economy, power output and reduced maintenance (much simpler transmission, lack of belt-driven engine accessories, and greatly reduced start-up engine wear and brake wear)

I haven’t yet driven an ’18 Camry, but I would be highly surprised if it is remarkably different from every last one of its predecessors. Should that prove to be the case, I promise I will eat every last one of my words.

A Camry was even too dull for my father who was 65 in 2011 and bought a Charger instead. I suppose you can dispute whether or not a Charger is a Camry Competitor or not but we looked at Camry, Accord, Optima, Sonata, and then he discovered the Charger was actually fun with fervor, emotion and excitement and lots of feedback in the steering and controls.

An Altima is less expensive, an Accord, Mazda 6, or Fusion is sportier. The Camry’s reputation for being dull is not unwarranted.

The “under-grille” is a bit too big to my taste, other than that, a fine looking sedan.

But the front is certainly better than the Avensis’ front, the Euro-Camry in a way, although smaller (D-segment, VW Passat-Ford Mondeo-Opel Insignia-Mazda 6 etc.). There’s just way too much going on there, while the rest of the car is pretty sleek.

Toyota Europe can only dream of the market share / sales numbers of the brand’s sedans in the US. I doubt if the current Avensis will get an all-new successor.

I’m trying to understand the front overhang on this new model. They’re doing everything they can up there to minimize it’s appearance, but isn’t it a bit over-long? They mount engine transversely, no? I thought Sir Issigonis taught us that’s supposed to shorten the whole front end (or am I just 57-ish years out of date?)

And what, pray tell, is absorbing the impact of the multitude of small bangs you get when parking in and being parked-into spaces here in the ‘big city’? Especially on the front, where that plastic grille thing seems to stick waaay out there. I guess, at least,
it’s black, unlike the body-colored bumpers that have graced (and defaced) the Camry for years.

The key is how low the front overhang is, and this new Camry looks as low as my 2010 Prius, which is lower than normal. Good for aerodynamics of course. Those delicate corners are going to get mangled like crazy by high curbs, landscaping rocks, etc., because on the sharpest turn that overhang swings way out there. The lowest 3 inches of the left front corner on my Prius are a scraped up mess.

Time for the return of curb feelers (kiddies, see example below).

PS: I like the looks of these new Camrys. I wish the new Prius looked like that.

Paul beat me to the punch, as I was going to create a QOTD around the new Camry and the possibility that Toyota made blunder on par with the 1996 Taurus. No doubt this new Camry is more exciting, but at what cost? Some of those grills look downright terrible, and the exterior just looks like an amalgamation of current design trends than anything else. That asymetrical interior is another pet peeve, but at least it serves a function in that it probably improves on right knee room.

I’m not completely on the side of this redesign being a big mistake because the overall greenhouse isn’t radically different than other cars on the market. Plus, the Camry has decades of positive brand equity behind it now. I highly doubt Toyota is going to price the Camry out of the market as Ford initially did with the Taurus.

But the exterior of a Camry has had such a consistency to it that its customer base may look elsewhere. Marketing may play a more important role for the Camry than ever, and if Toyota gets it wrong I could see buyers flocking to something like the Accord.

I’m thinking we may never know for sure if this redesign alienates traditional Camry buyers due to the CUV craze. Just like the Explorer likely siphoned shoppers away from the Taurus, the RAV4 is probably taking sales away from the Camry, which is not a trend that is going to change anytime soon.

In the words of an auto journalist writing for *Autoweek* magazine in 2012, the Camry is “The Most Important Car in the World,” a reference to the utter importance of this car to Toyota and its best-selling status for the majority of years it’s been sold in the United States. In fact, according to that article, Toyota sells more Camry’s in the United States “than all BMW, Mercedes-Benz( and Saab, Bentley, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Lotus Aston Martin and Maserati) cars combined.” However, this was in 2012.

Nevertheless, Toyota pours its heart and soul into the engineering and development of the Toyota platform, and the end result is a top-rated, durable car, day-in and day-out; not perfect, but close to it in a reasonably priced package! It lacks some excitement, but it (the V6) has spirited performance when needed.

In 2012, I sold my 2007 BMW 335i and bought a new, fully equipped Camry XLE with the fine 3.5L SEFI V6, and it has been one of the most comfortable, reliable and practical cars I’ve ever owned. It certainly lacks the handling and control of the rwd 335i, but the Camry was approximately half the price of the BMW, and to my utter surprise, it wasn’t too far behind the 335i in overall performance. With care, the Camry V6 can also pound out 33-34 mpg road trips.

Well said. I love Camrys… have never owned but have recommended (sold) dozens to others who want roomy, reliable transportation. My sister’s 2002 XLE V6 just hit 300k and she expects another 5 years out of it. She’ll probably get it.

The Camry represents what my father used to call a “fine” car. This meant it did its job well and was comfortable, reliable and solid. He didn’t buy these cars – he preferred BMW’s actually – but he respected them.

This latest iteration certainly looks, umm, dramatic and unquestionably rids Camry of the “inoffensive styling” description once and for all, but perhaps for the wrong reasons.

I do not like any of the new Lexus models at all and now this is looking like one of them! Too many character lines, gaping under bumper intakes and silly stampings at either end. They all look like they were styled using a machete! Just look at the torture inflicted on the metal in that profile.

It is a “fine’ car no doubt and could handle like it is on rails but I still couldn’t buy one. These things make the Koreans look conservative.

Wow, Toyota is really trying to do a 180 from all previous Camrys. I cannot tell whether I like it from the photographs. Honestly to me it looks over-styled and somewhat odd, but pictures aren’t always a good representation of the actual product and until I see it in person I’m not sure if I will like it or not. I give Toyota kudos for straying from the boring Camrys of the past. I hope the American public accepts them – or it will be a quick restyle for 2019.

Thanks for including the picture of the last four Camry generations. I guess I missed one somewhere – I thought there had only been three. I had to look closely to tell 2 and 3 weren’t the same car.
And that’s part of the problem. It’s hard to get interested in a car which never seems to change, or changes so slightly that a new model looks almost the same as the old. That being said, the Camry has undeniably sold well. I wonder how traditional Camry buyers, who are presumably used to the Beetle-like gradual appearance changes, will like the new model – which to me looks like a Kia.

Each time the Camry is restyled I like the older model better. The, given the passing of time and familiarity, I grow to like the newest model.

I leased a red, 4 cylinder 2011 Camry LE for 4 years. The 4 cylinder was quick enough 98% of the time, the automatic transmission was seamless, smooth, always in the right gear, the A/C quickly cooled the interior even in the 98 degree/90% humidity extended Summers we have here in New Orleans. It rode smoothly and quietly, did everything I wanted it to do with no fuss, no muss.

When the lease was up I almost purchased the car; I was so impressed with it and satisfied by it.

Quiet competence and high quality is jeered at and looked down upon by some automotive experts; but not by me!

Paul’s informative discussion of the 2018 model sounds like an updated and improved model of the one I leased.

Toyota makes good cars, but not good looking cars. This incoherent design language must be a big hit somewhere, otherwise I have no idea why Toyota sticks with it. It is better than the latest Prius though.

Wow, I actually like it and I haven’t said that about a Camry since the 92-96 models. It’s got a lot of Lexus styling cues, especially in the C pillar and the overall side window lines– but without the weird Black Widow Lexus hourglass grill.

In overall profile it also kind of reminds me of Cadillac’s latest concept.

Don’t know much about the new Camry or its architecture but one reason I hated the old one so much was the awful 1997 driving experience. I’m optimistic though because one of my best friends just got a new Prius and it drives much nicer than the old one. The kicker is the new car is absolutely hideous which has required Toyota put massive discounts on a car that’s barely a year old. He got one of those 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 sign and drive deals.

I’m not a Toyota hater, in fact I think the new Lexus RX is a beautiful car. Handsome, aggressive without trying too hard. The dashboard design is my new favorite of any car.

I’m wondering though why Toyotas didn’t do more with the design of the 2018 Camry given the clean sheet of paper. In the pics it looks more like a 4th facelift of the ’97 model than a whole new car on a new platform. They don’t take many risks over there.

I think they are trying to radically reposition the Camry and still hold on to much of their existing customers. (Seems like there is a lot of radical stuff going on now.) It dawned on me that the Camry is the car for people who don’t really want to have to own a car. Since they have to have one they want it to be OK looking, economical, reliable, comfortable and of course safe. There are now numerous lower cost alternatives that check all the boxes (including Corolla) so Toyota is trying to move Camry up market. We shall see how it works out.

I’ll probably rent one at some point, and I’ll be able to give a better opinion. I had a current model for a weekend last fall, and I found the ride to be a little firmer than older Camrys I’d driven and that’s a good thing. While a fine car overall, I found the older models a little too smooth – I like a sense of connection when I drive. A few weekends ago, I picked up a rental and I was offered a choice between a Camry, an Optima, or a Malibu. Since I’d already driven a Camry (and I’m not a big Kia fan) I took the Malibu and quite enjoyed driving it. If the new Camry has decent handling to go along with its other virtues (plenty of room, good mileage, Toyota quality) I’ll be happy to take one for a drive. Otherwise, I’d say Chevrolet has definitely been doing their homework, judging by the Malibu and by the Impala I drove for a week last summer.

I’m very interested in this; the only thing that I don’t like is the wide-mouth “Darth Vader” lower grille on the LE/XLE models. I don’t get all the hate for the Camry, it occupies the same place in the car pecking order as the mid-60s Chevy Impalas (of course now without 2-doors, wagons, or convertibles).

I like the idea of naturally aspirated engines (still not convinced of the “benefits” of a turbo) and the 8-speed auto, although the CVTs in the Priuses I have driven seem to be fine.

Its still a sedan, and a fwd automatic V6 at best. A darth vader respirator and red leather isn’t gonna change that anymore than a 55 year old granny getting a tramp stamp and dying her hair purple makes her a ‘hot babe’.

Pie in the sky? Absolutely. But it goes to show that the right bodystyle can make a dull boring car turn heads, especially when you go with the tried and true ‘proper’ drivetrain layout. But $160K? Nah. Not when the same formula was applied to the Charger in spawning the Challenger, and that just cracks $30K for an R/T with options in check.

A vulgar, gapping mouth, side and hood creases that have little to no relation to the overall styling or window openings. Styled by the ugly committee.

The real question is: Have Appliances International fixed the reflex numbing, reaction slowing stupefacient that leaches from somewhere in the interior?
On the plus side, an interior in colours other than black/slate/ dark grey is a improvement. Not one big enough to get me to lust after one.

This is true for any number of current models, with no real bumpers on the front, and grilles incorporated directly into the front ends. In vehicles like the Mazda CX-9, the entire front end leans forward, so you’re risking hood damage if you strike a high wall, as in a parking garage.

The March issue of Motor Trend has a detailed feature on the how the 2918 Camry came to be. I appreciate the engineering and design effort that has been put into this new model, but the front of the car is a little over the top. I’m sure it will be mistaken from the front as a Lexus.

Little doubt the reliability and comfort which has been a hallmark of the Camry will carry on. Will the model continue to enjoy good sales? Traditional Camry buyers are getting older and the new design might put some people off. Plus anyone younger it seems to me isn’t in the market for a sedan.

I think it looks pretty good. That said, I think it would be stupid of Toyota to kowtow to the “enthusiast” crowd when designing their bread and butter sedan. It’s a grocery getter/commutermobile. Most people in that segment basically want a gas n’ go vehicle. It sounds like the dynamics will be a bit more, well, dynamic for 2018. Alright.

I’m in the younger demographic but if I was going to get a Toyota product it would be an Avalon though I liked the previous generation better. More likely it would be a Lexus ES or LS with no Sporty McSport Sport S trim package.

Well it looks a bit different if a bit chunkier in the middle with a lot of mis mash going on with the hood and side creasing. But that front end is juts terrible. So is the weird dash that looks like a snake is making its way up to the side window. While I applaud the use of interior color Toyota screwed the pooch using that over the top whorehouse red. Why not a nice shade of blue or brown?

I’m so tired of the Cylon from Battlestar Galactica mania. So many cars have it, and I find it distasteful enough to shop elsewhere, especially when all the cars in your line have been beaten with the same ugly stick.

Paint the grill the same color as the body, or at least silver, because that black will fade to the usual grey powdery color like all side moldings do in a few years.

I thought the current (2017) Camry was a step backwards as its predecessor was nicely crisp and angular, which I like. I seem to be in the minority as I know a lot of people have said how “nice” and “expensive” the current Camry looks. Each to their own. I think the 2018 is a huge improvement. I love the interior, it’s even nicer than the current Avalon. The grilles are a bit big, a bit much, but I like it anyway. Even the red interior! A Camry I would actually consider buying, nice!

Given that we are not likely to get this car in the EU (it would encroach on Lexus’ territory too much and they have problems selling those), it is an academic exercise for me but I would consider one were I in the US. It is no thing of beauty though not as bad looking as the new Prius or the (even more hideous) C-HR, and from what I understand will offer almost supercar performance coupled with the reliability of a paperweight, so yes.